President’s Message

Here comes fall, and I am glad it is finally cooling off! We spent June cleaning up around the ARC–(re)organizing storage sections of the collection, recording objects into the database, and installing new exhibits for you to enjoy. Check out some of the photos!

You, our Historical Society members, know that our museum is a special place. What you may not know is there are two other museums that are just as special in walking distance from the ARC. Thanks to help from the Culver City Cultural Affairs Foundation, the Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum, the Wende Museum and the Culver City Historical Society Archives & Resource Center (ARC) will form the first ever Culver City Cultural Corridor! On Friday, November 9, all three museums will be open to the public for an exciting day. See the enclosed flyer for more information, and join us as we walk the Cultural Corridor together for the first time.

We have a new addition to our volunteers: David Voncannon is our new video editor! With his help and keen skills, we are quickly adding more videos of our recent programs to our YouTube channel.

There are also ways for YOU to get involved! We are looking for a new Government Affairs Liaison, Vice President of the Museum and Archives, and Communications Chair. Every week we receive questions about Culver City history, which are always fun to research and answer. We need more researchers to help answer the influx. We need docents and volunteers for our open hours and tours that come through the Archives. We will train you! These are enriching opportunities to work with your Society and help us continue to grow. I am happy to talk to you about any of these positions. Please email me at hope@culvercityhistoricalsociety.org.

Lastly, if you buy from Amazon or Ralph’s, visit the front page of our website and we explain how to link a percentage of your total purchases to support the Society. At no additional cost to you, these are easy ways that go to support our work.

I would like to begin this letter by applauding our Programs VP, Ryan Vincent, for inviting LA84’s Wayne Wilson to present a wonderful program about our city’s involvement with the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games. If you missed it, you will be able to view it on our website soon, under “View Our Videos on YouTube.”

Since the Installation of Officers, we have received some very generous items into the Society’s collection. Many of you remember the large city photos on the walls in Roll n’ Rye. We now have three of them. If you were a student at Culver High from 1962-1982, you may remember our drama teacher,Sandford Bodger. His collection of photos, programs, and posters from the Fall productions and Spring musicals are now part of our collection. How many of you remember hearing about the Egyptian House? To date, there has only been one photo that I have ever seen. That all changed when longtime resident Steve Peden left instructions to his family to donate his entire Egyptian House collection to the Society. We now have many photos, newspaper articles and, most significantly, two beautiful wood columns that once adorned the walls inside the house. May was National Historic Preservation month. With all our newly acquired gifts, we are doing our part in preserving our history.

Our Museum and Costumes committees have been doing lots of Spring cleaning! Art and Ellen Litman’s Museum Committee is doing such a great job getting our collection files organized! Denice Renteria and I are looking forward to the new shelving that will support our costume collection.

None of this would be possible without all of you. I look forward to seeing you soon at our July 18 General Meeting and Program!

This is my first newsletter message as president of the Historical Society. I thank everyone who joined us at the installation in January—what a fun party Michelle threw! I am humbled and overwhelmed by the support and well wishes. Since 1980, there is a small group of people who have been in this position of president and committed their time to build this Society into what it is today. I would like to thank Cathy Zermeno, Julie Lugo Cerra, Lupe Smith, Marti Diviak, Sam Cerra, Linda Brody, Bonnie Walsh, Hal Horne, Lu Herrera, Don Rogers, Steve Rose, Stu Freeman, Louise Coffey-Webb, and Michelle Bernardin. I also thank all the volunteers, past and present, for their dedication. To the current board officers, committee chairs, and friends who are volunteering in various positions, I say, “We have a winning team!”

Installation of the 2018-20 Historical Society Board on January 17, 2018 at the Culver Hotel, with installing officer Mayor Jeff Cooper and master of ceremonies Rafia Cooper. (Kevin Lachoff)

Recently, I met two of our museum volunteers, Annie Castaneda and Stephen Connell. They work every Wednesday in the ARC under the direction of Ellen and Art Litman, our ARC/Museum co-VPs. Over many years, we have received items that need to be documented and categorized. Art’s team works hard to catalogue each item with a specific location where it can be found in our collection and can be cross-referenced in the database. We want to locate items and information quicker to provide better service to the community for the many inquiries we receive.

I encourage you to attend the April 18 General Meeting for VP of Programs Ryan Vincent’s presentation on Culver City and the Olympics. We also look forward to new fundraising and merchandise ideas that Development VP Laura Stuart has in store.

Thank you for your support of the Historical Society. I look forward to a great 2018 with you.

I have thoroughly delighted in the programs that we brought to you during the course of the city’s celebration of our Centennial. From highlighting Culver City families, their businesses, and history, to exploring our city’s history by bringing back our Historical Bus Tours, we hope you have equally enjoyed them. We might still have a few Centennial celebratory moments left in us as we close out 2017 and ring in a New Year, so don’t put your streamers away just yet.

This is my final newsletter message as the Historical Society’s president. It has been my honor and privilege to represent this mighty organization during such a notable time in our city’s evolution. As we stand on the edge of our city’s next 100 years, I can only imagine the legacy we will leave to our young “Culverites.” History has and will continue to play a vital role in our city’s shape. Your Culver City Historical Society pledges to be advocates of this mantra for as long as we are part of this community.

Continue visiting our website and like or follow us on the social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) to stay connected with us!

As always, thank you for supporting your Historical Society! We cannot do this without you.

I haven’t shared many personal moments through this public letter, but since our last newsletter was published, I became a homeowner. This does not amount to much for the purposes of typical President Messages, other than the pathways of homeownership and historic preservation intersected with this purchase and it was an interesting test of my beliefs. The irony does not go unnoticed that May was national Historic Preservation Month. If you are interested in hearing more of my tale, come sit by me, and I’ll have a story to share.

We hope you enjoy this expanded newsletter issue, celebrating our Centennial. Please enjoy the photos, and additional articles. (Extra points will be given if you notice the new subtle changes to our newsletter design.)

As we celebrate the 100th birthday of our city’s incorporation, please calendar Saturday afternoon, September 16. We will bring back the Society’s historic bus tours that used to happen during Fiesta La Ballona. While the Culver City Centennial Committee’s 100th Birthday Party in Vets Park will be going on from 11am to 3pm, we will have our tours at designated times. Tickets will be free, and there might be surprise guests! Check back on our website for ticket information and reservations. We are grateful to partner with the city’s Transportation Department to bring this tour back for the birthday party.

Visit our website and like or follow us on the social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) to stay connected with us!

As always, thank you for supporting your Historical Society! We cannot do this without you.

#ThisPlaceMatters

In early May, the Society accepted a proclamation from the Culver City Council in recognition of Historic Preservation Month. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s theme this year is “This Place Matters,” which perfectly describes our feelings about “The Heart of Screenland” as we celebrate our Centennial year. (Jeremy Green)

Archives and Resource Center (ARC) hours

Located in the Veterans Memorial Building at 4117 Overland Avenue, the Culver City Historical Society Archives & Resource Center (ARC) is open the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month from 1:00p to 3:00p and by appointment. Please enter through the parking lot at the rear of the building.